On the trip to the Frederic Leighton house much was discussed about the decor and interior design of the property. One of the highlights of the house was the emphasis on orientalist design. A centerpiece of the house was an imitation “Islamic Court” room present with tiles, pillars, and structural architecture indicative of middle eastern interiors. “Orientalism” is a style of design that highlights Victorian fascination with the East and many other parts of the outside world during the time period. The Leighton house’s Islamic Court features materials, images, and decor that was highly unique and uncommon in England at the time. One can see expensive tiles native to the Middle East, images of birds not found in the West and and indoor fountain which wouldn’t have been common or practical in the UK climate. In fact, Orientalism was popular in everything from literature and theatre to design and fashion during the Victorian era. It is clear that most Victorians were fascinated with Orientalist themes as they were so foreign to their own and represented a new and unique look that was difficult (and expensive) to replicate. In addition, there are clearly some political reasons why orientalism rose to prominence during the time period. England and the United Kingdom were at the peak of their imperialist empire and had territories in all regions of the globe. Thus, the adoption of Eastern designs could be viewed as an extension of England’s imperialism and influence in the current global environment. It is very interesting to see such complex themes appearing in the design of someone’s home. This made the Leighton house a very intriguing experience for me.
Citations:
Demerdash, Nancy. “Orientalism.” Khan Academy, Khan Academy, 2016, www.khanacademy.org/humanities/becoming-modern/intro-becoming-modern/a/orientalism.
Justin, I found your examination of Victorian Orientalism through the lens of Leighton's fascination with the Middle East to be very insightful. This is a topic is what particularly interested in, and one that I found a clear connection between the visit of the week and the course readings. Based on modern assessments of how Western cultures utilize art and other elements from non-Western and typically poorer cultures, do you feel that Frederic Leighton's Orientalism (and Victorian Orientalism) in general is a form of culture appropriation or a justified appreciation of a beautiful art form?
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